Article

 

                                                   Zero Article Situation

             Students should learn the following points carefully to avoid the wrong use of articles. 

Article is omitted in following cases 

1. Before a proper noun 

(a) Akbar was a great king. 

(b) Bombay is a beautiful city. 

When 'Article' is used before a proper noun, it becomes a common noun. Examples 

(a) mumbai is the manchester of india. 

(b) this man is a second sachin. 

2. Before a common noun, used in its widest sense 

(a) Man is mortal. 

(b) What kind of bird it is? 

3. Before Plural nouns referring a class in a general sense 

(a) Bankers are generally honest. 

(b) Lawyers are generally intelligent. 

4. Before Abstract nouns that express qualities, state, feeling, actions 

(a) Honesty is the best policy. 

(b) Virtue is its own reward. 

When abstract nouns, instead of referring qualities, express person or things possessing such qualities or express qualities of definite objects. They are preceded by article. Examples 

(a) She possesses the cunningness of a fox. (Here cunningness refers the quality of a definite object that is 'fox') 

(b) He is a justice of peace ('Justice' stands for judge) 

(c) He possesses the swiftness of a tiger. 

5. Before material nouns 

(a) Iron is a hard metal. 

(b) Silver is a semi-precious metal. 

When material noun express things instead of matter of which they are made they are representing' common noun', so they can be preceded by the article. 

Examples 

(a) He threw a stone on the cow. 

(b) She threw a stick at the pig. 

6. Before names of diseases like Fever, Cholera, Consumption, etc. 

(But if the names of diseases are plural in their form, the article is generally uses as: the measles, the mumps.) 

7. Before name of regular meals breakfast, lunch, dinner 

(a) He was invited to dinner. 

But if the meal becomes particular article is used. 

(b) The dinner hosted by the queen was superb.